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Depletion and recovery of lymphoid subsets following morphine administration

  1. EY Zhang1,
  2. J Xiong1,
  3. BL Parker1,
  4. AY Chen1,
  5. PE Fields2,
  6. X Ma3,
  7. J Qiu1,
  8. TM Yankee1,*

Article first published online: 15 NOV 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01475.x

Issue

British Journal of Pharmacology

British Journal of Pharmacology

Special Issue: Themed Section: Transporters. Guest Editor: Steve Alexander

Volume 164, Issue 7, pages 1829–1844, December 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Zhang, E., Xiong, J., Parker, B., Chen, A., Fields, P., Ma, X., Qiu, J. and Yankee, T. (2011), Depletion and recovery of lymphoid subsets following morphine administration. British Journal of Pharmacology, 164: 1829–1844. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01475.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

  3. 3

    Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA

*Dr Thomas M Yankee, Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, 3025 WHW – MS 3029, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. E-mail: tyankee@kumc.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 15 NOV 2011
  2. Article first published online: 15 NOV 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 10 MAY 2011 04:54AM EST
  4. Received; 17 November 2010; Revised; 29 March 2011; Accepted; 21 April 2011

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Keywords:

  • morphine;
  • B-cells;
  • T-cells;
  • thymus;
  • bone marrow;
  • homeostatic proliferation;
  • B-cell development;
  • T-cell development

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Opioid use and abuse has been linked to significant immunosuppression, which has been attributed, in part, to drug-induced depletion of lymphocytes. We sought to define the mechanisms by which lymphocyte populations are depleted and recover following morphine treatment in mice.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Mice were implanted with morphine pellets and B- and T-cell subsets in the bone marrow, thymus, spleen and lymph nodes were analysed at various time points. We also examined the effects of morphine on T-cell development using an ex vivo assay.

KEY RESULTS The lymphocyte populations most susceptible to morphine-induced depletion were the precursor cells undergoing selection. As the lymphocytes recovered, more lymphocyte precursors proliferated than in control mice. In addition, peripheral T-cells displayed evidence that they had undergone homeostatic proliferation during the recovery phase of the experiments.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The recovery of lymphocytes following morphine-induced depletion occurred in the presence of morphine and via increased proliferation of lymphoid precursors and homeostatic proliferation of T-cells.

LINKED ARTICLE This article is commented on by Eisenstein, pp. 1826–1828 of this issue. To view this commentary visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01513.x

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